Hall of Fame Legend Jerry Rice Warns Head Coach Mike Macdonald: “The Seahawks May Be Flying High, But a Flaw in Their Defense Could Cost Them Dearly Against the NFL’s Best”

Hall of Fame Legend Jerry Rice Warns Head Coach Mike Macdonald: “The Seahawks May Be Flying High, But a Flaw in Their Defense Could Cost Them Dearly Against the NFL’s Best”

Seattle, Washington – November 4, 2025

Fresh off a dominant 38–14 win over the Washington Commanders, the atmosphere in Seattle is electric. With a 6–2 record and an offense firing on all cylinders under Sam Darnold, many fans believe the Seahawks are back among the NFC’s elite. But Hall of Fame legend Jerry Rice isn’t convinced. Appearing on NFL Countdown Live, the former 49ers great issued a stern warning to head coach Mike Macdonald — insisting that Seattle still has a defensive flaw that could cost them, especially heading into next week’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

“Seattle is playing great football, but there’s a clear weakness on defense,” Rice said. “They’re strong up front, but the secondary — particularly at the No. 2 cornerback spot — remains vulnerable. Good teams won’t ignore that. If they don’t tighten it up soon, the Cardinals could turn that weak spot into a major problem.”

According to Rice, while the Seahawks’ pass rush — led by Boye Mafe and Leonard Williams — has been excellent, the back end of the defense continues to leave gaps in the deep and middle zones, openings that savvy quarterbacks can exploit with crossing routes and play-action passes.
Data from Next Gen Stats shows that over the past three games, Seattle has allowed an average of 9.4 yards per deep pass attempt (20+ yards), ranking 27th in the NFL.

“I watched the Commanders game tape three times,” Rice revealed. “And there was something I just couldn’t ignore — a signal that only someone who’s been at the top level would catch. The Seahawks may be flying high, but if I can see it, you can bet the Cardinals can too. And trust me — they won’t miss the chance to turn that weakness into a weapon.”

Rice also praised head coach Mike Macdonald for transforming Seattle into a disciplined, confident team — but emphasized that defensive precision will determine how far they can really go this season.

“I respect Mike a lot — he’s building a winning culture,” Rice said. “But to reach the elite level, Seattle needs to be sharper in the secondary. One slip in coverage, one missed read, and it can all unravel faster than you think.”

Next week, the Seahawks travel to State Farm Stadium to face the Arizona Cardinals, a team that thrives on explosive, vertical passing plays.
If Jerry Rice’s warning proves true, this could be the game that exposes Seattle’s defensive weakness — or the one where they finally prove they’ve learned how to overcome it.